BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review: 20/21 J Skis Slacker
Update 4.30.20: we’ve spent a bit more time on J Skis’ touring ski and have updated our on-snow impressions.
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Women’s Hiking / Outdoor Pants Roundup
Need a new pair of hiking pants for your next excursion … or trip around the block? Check out our women’s pant roundup, with options from light and breathable pants for summer hikes to comfy leggings that feel equally at home on the trail, rock, or bike (plus one for the little ones).
Black Diamond Mission Ski Shell & Mission Pants
We’ve put in more than 100 days between the Black Diamond Mission Ski Shell & Mission Pants, and they quickly became some of our favorite outerwear pieces for inbounds skiing. Check out our full review.
Random Review: Beastie Boys Story
The Beastie Boys just dropped a “live documentary,” and we explain why everyone needs to see it.
Rickey Gates on Running across America (Ep.48)
In 2017, Rickey Gates set out on an odyssey to run across America — 3,700 miles from South Carolina to San Francisco. We talked to Rickey about this cross-country adventure and what he learned along the way, and how it fits in with his other projects, like his “Every Single Street” initiative; “Hut Run Hut” and “Bus Run Bus”; and “50 Classic Trails.”
Flash Review: 20/21 Sego Condor 108
Update 4.28.20: Jonathan Ellsworth adds some of his thoughts on the Condor 108 and how it compares to the 4FRNT Raven & Salomon QST 106.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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2021-2022 Dalbello Lupo Pro HD
We’ve now put more than 60 days in Dalbello’s Lupo Pro HD, and tried it with a variety of tongue & liner combinations. Check out our full review for an in-depth look at the boot, how it compares to a variety of other touring and alpine boots, and who we think would most appreciate it.
Hoka One One EVO Speedgoat
If you’re someone who’s strayed away from maximal trail shoes because they’re often too heavy or bulky — or you’re just looking for a lighter, well-cushioned shoe — the Hoka EVO Speedgoat should be on your radar. Check out our full review.
Flash Review: 20/21 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender
Check out our thoughts on the BLACKOPS Sender and how it compares to the BLACKOPS Sender Ti.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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2021-2022 Volkl Secret 102
The Volkl Secret 102 definitely stands out in the current women’s ski market and it might be just what some aggressive skiers have been looking for, though it won’t be for everyone. Check out our full review.
Mystery Ranch Backpacks: From Special Ops to Backcountry Skiing (Ep.97)
Mystery Ranch has a long history of working with and making packs for the US military, fire departments, and law enforcement. They also make everything from backpacks for everyday use, to packs for backcountry skiing, and the company has quite a unique culture. So we sat down with product designer, Alex Rich, to discuss what it’s like to design packs for US special forces; how their military designs trickle down to outdoor packs (and vice versa); how their design ethos reflects their sustainability culture; and more.
Win Men’s & Women’s Hiking Kits from Eddie Bauer
Enter for a chance to win a softshell jacket, baselayer, & pants from Eddie Bauer!
Best / Worst Ideas for Our Blister ‘Crash Course’ Videos (Ep. 22)
As a way to show our appreciation for our Bikes & Big Ideas listeners, we discussed our best / worst ideas for the bikes edition of our Blister ‘Crash Course’ video series — and some of the ideas are truly magnificent. So check it out, and then please feel free to suggest your own best / worst ideas for our ‘Crash Course’ bike videos.
Flash Review: 20/21 Majesty Havoc
Check out Paul Forward’s initial impressions of the new Majesty Havoc.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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2020-2021 Majesty Havoc
We’re reviewing a number of Majesty’s new 20/21 skis, including the 110mm-wide, freeride-oriented Havoc. Check out our First Look for more info.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
USWE Pace 8 Running Vest
Our running editor has been searching for the ideal running vest for 6 years now, and the USWE Pace 8 might just be the best one he’s used. Check out our review to see why.
Alex Desmond on Designing a Better Adaptive MTB (Ep.84)
Alex Desmond is an engineer, and when a friend of his suffered a stroke and was no longer able to ride a bike, Alex decided to do something about it. Six years later, the fruits of that project are here — as the Orange Phase AD3. Not only is the end result remarkable, but the story of how it came to be might be even wilder, so we sat down with Alex to get the rundown on the project including a whole lot of the technical details; getting the likes of Martyn Ashton and Lorraine Truong involved; the limitations of other adaptive mountain bikes; and how Alex ultimately used the project to land a job at Orange.
Dakine Seeker 18L Bike Hydration Backpack
Fanny packs are seemingly taking over the mountain bike world, but larger packs still have their place, and the Dakine Seeker 18 is a good one. Check out our full review.
Anton Krupicka on His Return to Racing; DFW vs. Murakami; & More (Ep.96)
We talk to Anton Krupicka about his recent return to racing; his ongoing exploration of different ways to move through the mountains; we get his unfiltered take on Murakami’s What I Talk about When I Talk about Running; and more.
2022 Transition Scout and Sentinel Alloy
Transition has long offered both aluminum and carbon frame options on most of their bikes, but the aluminum option was missing from both the Scout and Sentinel — until now. The more affordable versions are back, and you can check out all the details in our First Look.
2021 Knolly Tyaughton
We’ve talked a lot about how much fun aggressive hardtails can be, and now Knolly has launched their take on the genre — the Tyaughton — which is available in both titanium and steel. Check out our First Look for all the details.
Season Eqpt Co-Founder, Austin Smith, on Snowboarding, Telemarking, Comfy Boots, & Fire Truck Customization (Ep.182)
Austin Smith is the co-founder of Season Eqpt and the man in charge of the snowboard side of Season, while his co-founder, Eric Pollard, oversees the ski side. Today you’ll get Austin’s perspective on Season and their 21/22 snowboard lineup (plus a whole bunch of other topics), then on our GEAR:30 podcast, you’ll hear Eric offer his perspective on all the latest at Season.
Hoka One One Speedgoat 4
Hoka’s Speedgoat shoe has garnered a very strong following over the years, but how does the latest iteration compare to the previous ones — and other high-cushion trail shoes on the market? Check out our review of the Speedgoat 4.
Blister Q&A: Suspension Setup, Value Parts, & Bike Geometry Trends
In our new recurring Blister Q&A series, we’re tackling your questions on whatever topics you might want to hear about — we’re kicking it off with some Q’s about suspension setup, value MTB parts, and more.
Win Full Tilt Boots
This week the winner will get a pair of boots from Full Tilt’s First Chair collection!
The Pro’s Gear: Bode Miller (Ep.163)
On this episode of GEAR:30, Bode Miller makes clear that his different and creative ways of thinking weren’t just hallmarks of his approach to racing — they define his approach to skis, ski boots, bindings, and eyewear, too.
We Are One Founder, Dustin Adams, on The Arrival (Ep.83)
When we last checked in with We Are One’s Dustin Adams, he broke the news that they’d be making a bike. Now, 18 months later, it’s here. So we figured it was a great time to get Dustin back on Bikes & Big Ideas to talk about The Arrival, including balancing versatility vs. focusing on specific attributes; the modular frame platform and plans for future models; frame repairs, and making things in North America. And if that’s not enough, Dustin also drops several bonus big ideas in this one.